Family News

March 10th, 2025

Bus Survey

The final decision about bussing for the 2024-2025 school year was to be made Monday March 10th but we still did not have enough parent responses. We are now up to 142 responses due to the diligent work of the staff making phone calls. We have 254 families, and want to hear from as many of you as possible. Hopefully by Wednesday I can tell you next steps.

If you have not yet taken the survey, please read the information and take the survey.

Our commitment to enhancing accessibility, safety, and convenience for our students and families is unwavering. We are contacting you, our valued parents and families, to gather feedback about possibly adding bussing for the 2025-2026 school year. This new service is a step that would significantly impact our school day. Below, you will find important information regarding this new service and its effect on the daily school day schedule. At the bottom, you will find a link to take a survey about your thoughts on this change.

New Bussing Program Details

Bussing will be available to students who live .7 miles or farther away from the school, driving distance.
Buffalo Public Schools will provide bus service and follow designated routes with specific pick-up and drop-off locations and times for all students who qualify.
Once BPS registration procedures have been completed, families who qualify will receive additional information on bus routes and schedules over the summer.

Change in School Day Timing

To accommodate the new transportation service, the school day schedule will be adjusted as follows:

New Start Time: 7:00 am, students will be tardy at 7:25 am
New Dismissal Time: 2:00 pm

Pros & Cons of Bussing Implementation

Pros:

Provides a safe and reliable transportation option for students
Reduces morning and afternoon traffic congestion at the school
Eases transportation burdens for families who live farther away.
Enhances punctuality and attendance rates for students who are eligible for bussing.
BPS has a remote tracking system, so you can see exactly where the bus is on your phone.

Cons:

Adjustments to school start and end times may require schedule modifications for families.
Bussing availability may be limited based on geographic location and capacity.
Potential for longer travel times depending on the route.
The afterschool program will end at 4:30 instead of 5:30.
There will be no buses for students in any afterschool clubs or activities.
BPS continues to struggle to have enough drivers, which can result in delays.

Here is the survey link.

What Makes Westminster Special

Buffalo Promise Neighborhood Scholarships.

Each year, exceptional eighth-grade students from Westminster are awarded Buffalo Promise Neighborhood Scholarships for their hard work, determination, and community contributions. The awards, funded by M&T Bank, cover the full cost of each student’s tuition for four years to private high schools, in addition to additional support as they progress throughout their high school careers.

Re--Enrollment Packets Coming Home

All students should have returned their re-enrollment packets at this time. If you have not returned the packet someone form the school will be reaching out to check if you want us to keep your child's seat for next year. If you have it, but forgot to send it in, please do so this week.

For your currently enrolled students, you do not need to complete an online application; just return this packet. We want to reassure you that the re-enrollment process is straightforward and we are here to assist you if you have any questions or concerns.

Please reach out with questions or concerns.

Family Referral Program

We are excited to announce our Recruitment Referral Program — and give you a chance to win a $100 Gift Card in our weekly drawing!

Our school family is growing, and we believe great families know great families. If you refer a new family to WCCS, you'll be entered into a weekly drawing for a $100 gift card as a thank-you for helping our community grow!

How It Works:

Tell your friends, neighbors, and family about WCCS and encourage them to learn more.
Either send in the following information or add it to the referral form.

Potential Parent/Guardian Name
Potential Student(s) Name(s)
Potential Student(s) Grade(s)
Potential Family Phone Number
Potential Family email
Potential Family address
Name of the person who is completing the referral

Once you complete the form online or send the information to the school, you’ll be entered into that week’s drawing for a $100 gift card!
Winners are drawn every Friday and notified by phone. Make sure the office has your correct phone number.

Bonus:

The more families you refer and who enroll, the more entries you get — there’s no limit!

Thank you for being a valued part of the WCCS Pride. Together, we can make our community stronger!

If you have any questions, please contact Tasha Leeper at 716-816-3450, ext 1184, lleeper@westminsterccs.org.

Applications for the 2025-2026 School Year are open

Please share the link with anyone looking for an excellent school for their students next year. Westminster is doing great in our Academics. When compared to the K-8 Buffalo Schools, Westminster scored 1st in Science, 2nd in ELA, and 3rd in Math. We also did better than many other Charter Schools, such as CSAT, Elmwood Village Hertel, Buffalo United, Reach Academy, Charter School of Inquiry, and King Center, to name a few. The application link is below. If you have a rising Kindergartener please apply for them to secure their spot. If your child is currently enrolled you do no need to complete an application.

For every family you recommend who applies for next year you will be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card.

https://forms.gle/sYyTWP8FzSbLJYESA